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Moldovan pair fail to have sanctions lifted

An EU court has upheld an EU decision to impose sanctions on the former leader and former deputy leader of a political party in Moldova.

The EU took the measures against Ilan Shor, former leader of the SOR party, and its deputy leader Martina Tauber, last year in response to actions that it said were destabilising Moldova.

The EU’s General Court noted that their inclusion on sanctions lists was based on their role in organising violent anti-government demonstrations that undermined or threatened the sovereignty and independence of Moldova, or democracy, the rule of law, stability or security in that state.  

Shor and Tauber had asked the court to annul the EU actions, but the court today (18 December) dismissed their actions.

‘Assistance of Russia’

The judges found that the actions taken by EU governments came within the framework of the EU’s common foreign and security policy.

“Organising, directing, or participating in violent demonstrations or other acts of violence can justify EU action in that field, with a view to consolidating and supporting democracy and the rule of law in a third country,” the court stated.

It found that the SOR party had organised violent demonstrations and gatherings, primarily in the Moldovan capital Chișinău, “with the co-operation of protestors selected, trained and paid by that party”.

“Moreover, the violent demonstrations in question were organised in the interests and with the assistance of Russia, with the result that they are fully in line with actions to destabilise the Moldovan government, to which the restrictive measures at issue are designed to respond,” the court concluded.